Can participants live off-campus?
Participants may choose to live off-campus and commute each day.
Summer Music Academy
Summer Music Academy
OHIO Summer Music Academy 2025
Join us June 22–28, 2025! Registration will be available February 1, 2025.
Includes the following concentrations:
- Band Camp
- Contemporary Music and Digital Instruments (CMDI)
- Piano Intensive
- Strings Intensive
- Voice Intensive
The Ohio University School of Music welcomes students to our Summer Music Academy! For more than 20 years, young musicians and vocalists have been coming together on our Athens, Ohio campus to enhance their musicianship, develop their performance skills, and collaborate with fellow high school musicians from the region and beyond. Along with our award-winning faculty, the program welcomes distinguished musicians and performing artists to work with students and share their experiences in the field. Students in all areas enroll for college credit, receive individual instruction and participate in group practice sessions and seminars each day, though individual schedules may vary. Each program ends with a final concert scheduled on Friday or Saturday of the camp week.
The OHIO Summer Music Academy includes the following five streams:
OHIO Summer Music Academy: Band Camp
The OHIO Summer Music Academy Band Camp is an immersive experience designed for intermediate to advanced high school brass, woodwind, and percussion students who, with our distinguished faculty and guest clinicians, want to enhance their musicianship, develop their performance skills, and collaborate with high school musicians from the region and beyond. Daily classes include both large and chamber ensemble sessions and master classes as well as seminars on various topics such as music theory, rock composition and electronics, instrument repair and maintenance, acoustics, improvisation, and music leadership with members of the Ohio University Marching 110.
All brass, percussion, and woodwind students rehearse and perform with the wind ensemble. This group also performs with the Athens Communiversity Band as part of the “Under the Elms” concert series - an outdoor summer concert series that has been an Athens tradition for more than 70 years!
Participants will perform in a culminating finale concert on Saturday with the Summer Music Academy Wind Ensemble.
OHIO Summer Music Academy: Contemporary Music and Digital Instruments
Ohio University’s Contemporary Music and Digital Instruments program offers an opportunity for students to combine popular music and technology to create their own musical works. Composition and performance is taught through hands-on experiences with a wide range of digital instruments including loopers, MIDI controllers, digital audio workstations, beat making software, and synthesizers. Students benefit from individual and group instruction, as well as seminars that explore a wide variety of musical styles.
CDMI participants create, rehearse, and perform in ensembles along with participants in other instrumental streams. The size and makeup of these ensembles is determined each year based on CDMI academy participants, and the groups perform at a concert at the conclusion of the academy.
OHIO Summer Music Academy: Orchestral Strings
String players rehearse and perform with an orchestral chamber ensemble as well as smaller chamber groups while being coached by Ohio University faculty. The experience culminates in a public performance on Saturday.
OHIO Summer Music Academy: Piano
The OHIO Summer Music Academy Piano program provides students with the opportunity to study piano in a stimulating and nurturing learning environment under the guidance of our distinguished artist faculty and guests. The program also provides participants with both individual and group instruction, supervised practice time, master classes, ensemble study, performance opportunities, and seminars on a variety of topics (i.e. jazz piano, organ, practice strategies, careers in music, etc.).
In addition to solo work, students have the opportunity to participate in various chamber ensembles (piano duet, piano string quartet, etc.) determined each year based on Music Academy participants.
Piano academy participants perform in a finale concert on Friday evening.
OHIO Summer Music Academy: Voice
High school students interested in voice performance work directly with our distinguished vocal music faculty and guests to build their voices and develop their singing techniques. Vocal music students will explore choral music, contemporary a capella music, vocal music recording, and live stage performance in addition to explorations of composition, music theory, and studies of extraordinary vocal performers.
Vocalists rehearse and perform with a vocal ensemble. The size, makeup, and repertoire of the ensemble is determined each year based on vocal academy participants, and the group performs at a concert at the conclusion of the academy.
Daily Schedule
In addition to ensembles groups and master classes, academy participants have a choice of various classes to attend. Topics may include: music theory, rock composition and electronic music, instrument maintenance and repair, acoustics, improvisation, and music leadership topics with members of the Ohio University Marching 110.
Students are invited to participate in a variety of evening activities including faculty concerts, student performances, and a variety of recreational activities. Students who are commuting to the program are also welcomed to join in the schedule of evening activities and may visit local restaurants and the dining hall with the group if desired on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Please note: For security purposes, only students registered to stay in residence halls may enter residential buildings. Some recreational activities such as movie nights or craft nights may take place inside the residence halls and would be limited to those students in residence.
Program Fees - subject to change
OHIO Summer Music Academy – June 23-28, 2025 Program fee for each area of the Summer Music Academy | $385 |
Housing and Meal Plan Fee – June 22-28, 2025 Sunday–Saturday, 6 nights accommodation in university residence halls including all meals | $405 |
| Total Cost, Commuting Participant: | $385.00 |
| Total Cost, Residential Participant: | $790 |
Optional Additional Fees
| Daily commuter parking pass – one week | $15.00 |
| Overnight parking pass – one week | $35.00 |
| Recommended cash for student incidental purchases | $25.00–$50.00 |
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and merit scholarships are available to assist with Program Fee (does not apply to Housing and Meal Plan Fee). To apply, upload your financial aid and/or merit scholarship application along with your registration.
For merit scholarship applications worth up to 25% off your Program Fee, you may upload or link to a 2-minute video of the applicant performing a solo or an excerpt of a solo. Upload can be done during the registration process or sent by email to summerarts@ohio.edu no later than April 30, 2025. Only one discount will apply.
Staff, Faculty, and Alumni Discount
Children and dependents of Ohio University staff, faculty, and alumni receive a 10% discount on the Program Fee. Enter employee name and department or enter your degree program completed and year of graduation at registration to receive your discount. Only one discount will apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a car necessary?
It is not necessary to have a car while staying on campus. Participants can walk to all areas of the campus easily and use Athens Public Transit to access local amenities. If parking on campus, participants must purchase either a commuter or overnight parking pass. View campus map as a guide.
Will I have a roommate?
Students aged 18 and younger will be housed in double occupancy rooms in university residence halls and may request a roommate in advance if desired.
Students 19 and older will be housed singly in a separate residence hall.
What is included in the meal plan?
All students staying in residence on campus are automatically enrolled in our meal plan for the duration of the session, which provides for all meals at our campus dining. Meals include healthy, fresh options for all dietary needs. Sample menus can be viewed online.
Students with particular dietary restrictions or concerns may reach out to our campus dietitian Angie Bohyer at bohyer@ohio.edu.
May I register to take the workshop part-time?
With our one-week intensive schedule, we are unable to offer part-time registration for the Summer Dance Institute, however we encourage those who are interested but unable to attend fully to join us on Saturday, June 22 for the final performance in the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theater.
Is there a placement audition at the start of the program?
Students may be divided according to age range and technical ability. If any adjustments are necessary, the workshop faculty or staff will speak to the dancers individually.
What does a daily schedule look like?
Each day begins with a morning technique class led by Full Circle Dance Company, followed by professional development seminars taught by company members. The afternoon session includes repertory and composition courses with the company. Each day ends with nightly activities including Full Circle rehearsals to observe, improv jams, and wellness workshops.
What can I do during the evening?
The program will host optional nightly events that may include open company rehearsals, a lecture or demonstration from the company, films, wellness and nutrition seminars, improv jams, etc. Students may also choose to relax with friends and spend time on campus and in Uptown Athens.
What should I bring/pack?
Regarding clothes: enough dancewear to get through one week (laundry facilities are available in residence halls), umbrella, a light jacket/sweatshirt, and clothes to wear to performance (can be informal). Campus recreation facilities are available to participants so you may choose to bring additional athletic clothing including a swimsuit and towel.
Health and wellness: prescription, over the counter medicine, or any necessary toiletries (there is a CVS within walking distance).
Miscellaneous items: personal electronics and chargers, alarm clock, journal, yoga mat or large towel, knee pads, and water bottle.
You may choose to bring your own linens (extra-long twin sheets, blanket, pillow, towels) or select the add-on linen package with the housing and meal plan. (If you do not have an extra-long twin sheet set, two flat sheets of another size will fit the mattresses).
Other important items: health insurance information, bankcard or cash for one week (several ATM machines within walking distance).
Is there internet access?
There is free guest wifi access across campus.
What else can I do in Athens?
There are plenty of things to do and see on the Ohio University campus and in the surrounding Athens area. Take a walk to Court Street to visit local restaurants, bakeries, shops, and cafés as well as see open mic nights, spoken word, and local musicians. Spend time on the College Green enjoying a picnic with friends. Take a hike on one of the many trails Athens has to offer.
Visit Athens County website for more ideas and information!